I’m confused. Is OSM not “Open” anymore? Like are they bought out?
It is still open, just that some corporations are contributing to it and using it’s data for their content.
Good TL;DR.
I’m slightly confused why the community is seeing this as controversial though. Isn’t the whole idea that OSM would take over as a dominant atlas database exactly what the project’s end goal is? It just has the side effect that tech companies start to use and contribute to their database.
I agree, but I will always be more than a bit apprehensive whenever Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and freaking Facebook are involved. If they make OSM more feature rich so they can compete with Google Maps more successfully: good. However, I am worried that they might pull off some sleazy moves, like for example removing Google’s buildings from OSM out of spite. I hope I’m just being paranoid.
will always be more than a bit apprehensive whenever Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and freaking Facebook are involved
A bit unnerving to see the “Advisory Board” (https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board) being populated with some of them
